Use open hardware with open source software

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols wrote:There is still another way though: Use open hardware with open source software. This is the path Cathy Malmrose, CEO of the Linux PC vendor ZaReason would like to see followed.

As Malmrose said "With UEFI's Secure Boot around the corner, we are hoping to raise awareness that Linux distributors don't need to sign with Microsoft [or use their secure boot]. Computers that are rooted with open bootloader are available. That's what we ship." True, "UEFI's Secure Boot is implemented at OEM (original equipment manufacturer) level, all new PCs purchased (with the intent of loading your favorite distro) will have Secure Boot."

Malmrose isn't happy with disabling it or using Fedora or Ubuntu's methods. "Yes, you can disable it. But 'disabling' something that's 'secure' makes you bad." She also fears that in the long run, "the keystroke(s) needed to get Linux to run on machines post-2012 will be simple at first, becoming increasingly complex at a non-shocking rate. It's a monumental shift at OEM level." Malmrose fears that this will make desktop Linux "too difficult to new users, [and this will cause] slow death by suffocation" for Linux.